I ushered Ellie away, much to her persistence of staying with them for dinner. Sometimes we eat at the big house but most of the time I enjoyed our quiet dinners. Made her bedtime a lot smoother and calmer. Besides, she needed the early night as she’ll be up incredibly late tonight.
Reaching for the tin foil to cover the casserole I finish making, I pick the bowl up and turn on my heels in the direction of the refrigerator.
Looking up from the floorboards towards the fridge, I see Maverick already standing there, eyeing me up with a shit-eating grin on his face. I smirk back at him.
“Hi, Firefly,” he says just above a whisper, and my heart nearly falls out my ass. My cheeks burn.
He’s said it again…
****
Seventeen years ago.
Feeling the wind against my face riding my second favourite boy, I see our field coming into view. Maverick’s behind me, trying to keep up on his new mare; Storm.
He decided to let me name her, and I thought she looked like a storm cloud waiting to happen on our lives.
“Slow down, will ya, Mabel?” I hear Maverick shout from behind me.
Hell would freeze over before me and my boy would slow down,we were gonna be the fastest team around.
Shame he’s such a good work horse; in another life he would have made a perfect barrel racer.
I nudge Dusty with my heel, and he flies through the last patch of green before reaching mine and Mav’s field.
The dusk on the horizon like it always is when we make it out here after a long day of school and chores.
I pull back on Dusty’s reigns reaching our favourite spot, slowing him down from his faultless gallop. I give my boy a pat and look behind me to see Mav and Storm trotting over to us.
“She’s got to keep up sometime.” I wink back at him, and he shows me my favourite grin.
“She’ll learn and then you’ll be sorry,” he says, finally reaching me.
Maverick swings his leg over Storm and comes off her back with ease, thudding his feet on the floor before tying her up on our makeshift post. I stay seated, waiting for him to reach me.
Maverick holds his arms to me as I swing my leg over Dusty’s back and place my arms on Maverick’s shoulder, sliding off my old boys side. I place a kiss onto one of Mavericks cheeks.
Settling down onto the grass, I let the air fill my lungs as Maverick slides in behind me, pullingmy back onto his chest. The sun is setting, and it is the most beautiful sight. The wildlife starts to come to life around us.
“Hey, Mav, what are those?” I ask as I see dim lights surrounding us.
“They’re fireflies,” he responds, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear.
“They’re beautiful,” I say, reaching out to try and touch one.
“Like you, baby,” Maverick whispers into my ear as I turn my face to look up at his, nudging my shoulder into his back. I feel my cheeks turning red as I lean against him.
“They remind me of you, you know,” he continues as I look back up to him.
“How so?” I ask.
“They light the nights sky, like you light up my sky, every single day, just by being you.” He smiles back down at me before leaning his face towards mine…
****
This time however, I refuse to snap back at him at the name. It sends a shiver down my spine. After all, I was sad anddisappointed when he didn’t call me it yesterday.
Besides, even when I was angry; it made my stomach flutter.
